i’ve been taking him out for an airing
most days, lately. says he likes the smell outside this time of year.
wood smoke and leaf rot.
we had stopped to rest on the courthouse steps
when three klansmen decked out in their robes came by
with a wreath of flowers for
armistice day.
mr. field, he attacked those klansmen
as they tried placing their wreath for white men
on the courthouse lawn.
he got so worked up
he snatched the wreath
and threw it down the courthouse
basement,
then chased the klansmen away with
his cane,
made from the timbers of andersonville prison,
and that’s the first I knew he could see.
even through those grimy glasses, he had pretty dead aim.
mr. field stood guard at the courthouse
the rest of the evening.
i had to bring him his dinner.
and sit
and eat with him.
right there,
in front of everyone. and wasn’t he in the best mood he’s been in
for months.